PREVIEW: Windies seek win at Kensington

published by admin on Fri, 04/29/2011 - 00:52

Bridgetown, Barbados, CMC – Captain Darren Sammy says an
improved performance from his batsmen and bowlers will be needed if West
Indies are to arrest their losing slide against Pakistan when the third
Digicel One-Day International on Thursday.

First ball is 9.30 am (8.30 am Jamaica Time).

The Windies will be looking for a victory to stay alive in the series,
after losing the double-header in St Lucia last week to fall behind 0-2
in the five-match rubber.

“We’ve reviewed that last two games and we have identified the areas
where we need to improve especially with the dot-ball percentage. In
both matches you had over 50 per cent … so that’s an area that we
definitely have to improve on,” Sammy told reporters on Wednesday.

“The batsmen are aware of that and I know that with the help of Dessie
(Desmond Haynes) showing them different ways in which to counteract the
spin, I’m confident we will see a better display or some more intent,
whether running between the wickets, shot selection and things like
that.”

In both matches last weekend at the Beausejour Cricket Ground, West
Indies failed to mount significant totals, gathering 221 in the first
game and 220 in the second.

The hosts have managed just two half-centuries, with stylish
left-hander Darren Bravo stroking a slow 67 in the first game while
Lendl Simmons scored an attractive 51 in the last encounter.

West Indies have been bogged down by off-spinners Saeed Ajmal and
Mohammed Hafeez, who have undermined the batting on both occasions.
Behind these batting displays, Pakistan overhauled their targets,
marching to an eight-wicket victory in the first encounter and a
seven-wicket triumph on Monday.

Sammy said his bowlers were well aware of the need to put more pressure on the Pakistani batsmen.

“Every bowler in order to get wickets you have to be at least
consistent in your line and length although we had an improved
performance in the second game we still didn’t bowl balls in consistent
areas to get that wicket,” Sammy explained. “That is something as a team
we are aware of. We have to take wickets, whether with the new ball or
at other intervals of the game.”

Pakistan, led by Shahid Afridi meanwhile, will be looking to wrap up
the series with a win on Thursday – National Heroes Day in Barbados, a
national holiday. Ajmal and Hafeez are expected to feature prominently
in the attack again while Hafeez, Ahmed Shehzad Asad Shafiq,
Misbah-ul-Haq and Umar Akmal will be looking to score heavily on the
placid Kensington Oval pitch and fast outfield.

Thursday’s match is the first of a double-header at Oval, with the
second match scheduled for Monday – Labour Day on the island, a national
holiday.